ABSTRACT
Taenia solium-taeniasis and cysticercosis were studied in the human and porcine populations of a rural community in the Southern Ecuadorian Andes. From the 1059 inhabitants, 800 serum samples and 958 stool samples could be collected. In addition, 646 from the estimated 1148 pigs were tongue inspected. Circulating antigen was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA) in 2.25 percent of the human population, whereas intestinal taeniasis was detected in 1.46 percent by the formalin-ether technique. Following treatment and recovery of tapeworm fragments these were all identified as T. solium. Porcine cysticercosis was diagnosed in 3.56 percent of the pigs by tongue inspection. In addition, enzyme linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) was performed on a subset group of 100 humans to confirm the results of the Ag-ELISA. One hundred serum samples from pigs were also analysed by EITB. It appeared that 43 and 74 percent of humans and pigs had antibodies against T. solium cysticerci, respectively. It is concluded that contrary to the high exposure of the human population to T. solium that is suggested by EITB, the number of active cysticercosis cases, diagnosed by Ag-ELISA, was low, which may indicate endemic stability. The further use of complementary diagnostic methods for a better understanding of the epidemiology of T. solium is suggested.
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Antibodies, Helminth/blood , Cysticercosis/diagnosis , Endemic Diseases , Taenia solium/isolation & purification , Taeniasis/diagnosis , Cysticercosis/blood , Cysticercosis/epidemiology , Cysticercosis/veterinary , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Ecuador/epidemiology , Feces/parasitology , Immunoblotting , Mass Screening , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Prevalence , Rural Population , Seasons , Swine , Swine Diseases/diagnosis , Swine Diseases/epidemiology , Swine Diseases/parasitology , Taenia solium/genetics , Taenia solium/immunology , Taeniasis/blood , Taeniasis/etiology , Taeniasis/veterinaryABSTRACT
An epidemiological survey was carried out in 3,344 people of an urban town in Lagamar, Minas Gerais, Brazil--during 1992-1993, to evaluate the main risk factors related to taeniasis and cysticercosis. A total number of 875 (78.9%) houses were visited and 1080 (32.3%) subjects were clinically examined. Poor sanitary conditions were positively associated with former history of taeniasis or seizures in households (p < 0.05). It was remarkable the positive relationship between taeniasis and seizures when households were questioned and subjects were clinically evaluated (p < 0.05). The relative risk of seizures was 2.3 between households and 1.7 for individuals clinically examined respectively. The breeding of swine nearby and the chronic carriers of taeniasis are determinant factors in the maintenance of the epidemiological link between taeniasis and cysticercosis in endemic areas.
Foi realizado inquérito epidemiológico em 3344 indivíduos da área urbana de Lagamar, Minas Gerais, Brasil, durante 1992-1993 para avaliar os principais fatores de risco relacionados com teníase e cisticercose. Foram visitadas 875 (78,9%) casas e examinados clinicamente 1080 (32,3%) indivíduos. As condições sanitárias deficientes estiveram associadas estatisticamente com história anterior ou atual de teníase ou de convulsões entre os membros de cada família (p < 0,05). A correlação entre teniase e convulsões foi evidenciada tanto no inquérito domiciliar como durante a avaliação clínica dos indivíduos (p < 0,0001). O risco relativo de convulsões foi de 2,3 entre os moradores entrevistados no domicílio e 1,7 entre os indivíduos que compareceram para exame clínico, respectivamente. A criação de suínos no peridomicílio e os portadores crônicos de teníase são fatores determinantes na perpetuação do elo epidemiológico teníase-cisticercose nas áreas endêmicas.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Child , Child, Preschool , Dogs , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Taeniasis/epidemiology , Animal Husbandry , Brazil/epidemiology , Cysticercosis/epidemiology , Cysticercosis/etiology , Seizures/epidemiology , Housing , Hygiene/standards , Carrier State/parasitology , Risk Factors , Swine , Taeniasis/etiologyABSTRACT
Los estudios sobre el problema de la teniasis-cisticercosis en Costa Rica, son escasos y primordialmente clínicos. No existen trabajos sistemáticos sobre la prevalencia de anticuerpos contra Cysticercus cellolosae en diversos centros de salud en la población general. Tampoco se conoce el número real de personas infectadas con Taenia Solium. En la revisión presente, se hace una recopilación de los trabajos sobre éste tema, publicados o presentados en congresos en Costa Rica. Además, incluye un análisis sobre los casos de biopsias informados con el diagnóstico de cisticercosis durante los últimos trece años en un hospital metropolitano del país.